Neuroleptic-induced catatonia or a mild form of neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Neuroleptic-induced catatonia (NIC) and milder neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) share parkinsonian features, catatonic symptoms, mild fever, and have been described in patients receiving antipsychotic agents. We report the case of a patient with a schizophreniform disorder and a mild mental retardation who developed a condition which can be diagnosed either as NIC or as a mild form of NMS and has been treated successfully with a combination of amantadine (600 mg/day) and diazepam (30 mg/day). The overlapping between NIC and mild NMS cases might lead to an overestimation of the incidence of current NMS and reinforces the view of the existence of a 'neuroleptic toxicity spectrum'.
Kontaxakis
V P
VP
Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, Greece.
Vaidakis
N M
NM
Christodoulou
G N
GN
Valergaki
H C
HC
D000328:Adult; D002389:Catatonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D009459:Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
C033563:haloperidol decanoate; D006220:Haloperidol